House rules

It is extremely important that you follow the house rules while you are with us to protect you, your fellow tenants and members of staff.

Please make yourself familiar with and follow the rules outlined below. Any breach of these rules by a woman or any person resident with her may result in her being asked to leave for the safety of current and future tenants.

Unfortunately visitors cannot be allowed in or near our refuges and they must not be told where they are.

Only official visitors like social workers are allowed in and then only by prior arrangement with the office.

Reason:

Again this rule exists for safety reasons. Confidentiality in respect of the locations of our refuges is vital and in the interest of present and future residents. It is essential that as few people as possible know exactly where we are.

We appreciate that you need the support of your family and friends at this difficult time but must ask that you meet them at a place away from our refuges.

The only exception to this rule is the people employed by Progress Housing Group and official visitors like the police. All of these people are duty bound to keep the address secret.

If contact between your children and their father takes place, this must be arranged somewhere away from us.

Under no circumstances must children be left in their rooms unsupervised. All children under eight years should be in bed by 8pm.

Children aged nine to 12 years should be in bed by 9pm and children aged 13 and over by 10pm.

Reason:

This rule is intended to be as much for your own benefit as for your child’s. It is appreciated that at home you will have your own rules about bedtimes but we would ask you to consider other women living here who may need time in other adult company without children overhearing conversations.

Routines for children can be reassuring for them at a time when life has been disrupted in other respects.

All rent payments must be paid promptly each week. Any resident more than three weeks in arrears will be in breach of their Licence Agreement and may be asked to leave.

When residents first move in, if they do not receive any money for some time then we can wait for the rent. This is on the understanding that once their money is through they will clear what rent they owe.

Reason:

We can only continue to offer a place of safety and give support to yourself and other women if it receives the income due to it and remains financially viable.

Residents will be recharged the cost of any damage they cause to the fabric of the building, furnishings or equipment that is deemed to be beyond fair wear and tear. This will include damage caused by residents' children.

Reason:

Residents are under an obligation during their stay with us to respect the building and all furniture and equipment provided within it. Replacements and repairs are expensive and other residents will need to use the facilities in the future.